“Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security” Adds Four New Visit Visa Categories and Updates Conditions and Durations of Existing Visas

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has announced the addition of four new categories for visit visas and revisions to the duration, conditions, and requirements for several existing visas. This initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to global openness and its strategy to attract top talent, experts, and entrepreneurs in technology—particularly in artificial intelligence—as well as in entertainment and tourism.

Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of the Authority, stated that the decision to revise the regulations and conditions for several existing visas and to introduce new purposes for visit visas is the result of the Authority’s forward-looking studies on current and future trends in residency and foreigners’ affairs at the local, regional, and international levels. He added that it also reflects the findings of regular evaluations of the current service system, along with feedback and suggestions received from customers through the Authority’s Customer Councils, call center, inquiry and complaint platform, and the Government Services Observatory – Customer Pulse. The decision further embodies the Authority’s vision and its vital role in supporting community security and fostering economic diversification and growth.

He pointed out that the amendments meet the aspirations of applicants and take into account the humanitarian and economic circumstances of many groups seeking to continue working and living in the United Arab Emirates, explore business opportunities, and build their future in the country. He noted that these changes help improve quality of life, boost trade and transportation, support the technology sector, and strengthen the UAE’s competitiveness and economic capacity at the local, regional, and international levels.

New Purposes for Obtaining Visit Visas

The decision includes adding four new purposes for obtaining an entry visa, among them issuing an entry visa for artificial intelligence specialists for a single or multiple visits within a specified period, provided a letter is submitted from the sponsoring or hosting entity (a technology-focused establishment). It also introduces an entertainment entry visa, granted to foreign visitors for a temporary stay for leisure purposes.

The third purpose is the Events Visit Visa, which is issued to foreign nationals for a temporary period to attend a festival, exhibition, conference, seminar, or economic, cultural, sports, religious, community, or educational activities, or similar events. Granting this visa requires that the sponsor or host be an entity from the public or private sector, with a letter from the hosting organization specifying the event details and its duration.

The decision also stipulates that the Authority may grant a foreign national a multiple-entry visa for tourism via cruise ships and leisure boats for a temporary period, provided that a tourism itinerary for entry into the country is included and that the sponsor or host in this case is an establishment licensed for this type of activity.

Truck Drivers Visa

The decision also amends the conditions and requirements for several existing visas, stipulating the issuance of a visa for foreign truck drivers for a single or multiple trips, provided the sponsor or host is a shipping company or a business engaged in cargo transport, with the required financial guarantee and prescribed fee fulfilled, and that the beneficiary has health insurance coverage.

Visiting a Friend or Relative

The amendments in the decision also revise the regulations for issuing an entry visa to visit a friend or relative. If the visitor is a first-degree relative of a foreign resident in the UAE, the sponsor/host must have a minimum monthly income of AED 4,000. If the visitor is a second- or third-degree relative, the sponsor/host’s monthly income must be at least AED 8,000. In the case of a friend visiting a foreign resident, the sponsor/host is required to have a minimum monthly income of AED 15,000.

Exploring Business Opportunities

Regarding the Business Opportunity Exploration Visa, the decision added a requirement stating that a foreign national seeking to explore opportunities for establishing a business must demonstrate financial capability appropriate to the nature of the intended activity, or be engaged in that activity through an existing establishment or company outside the country, or be a practicing professional in that field.

New Regulations for Humanitarian Cases

Regarding humanitarian cases, the decision specifies that the visa duration is limited to one year. The Chairman of the Authority may issue a decision to continue granting the visa to foreign nationals whose countries are experiencing wars, disasters, or unrest without the need for a sponsor or host, or to renew or cancel such residency based on reports submitted by the Authority’s Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs. This type of residence permit is considered void if the beneficiary leaves the United Arab Emirates.

With regard to bringing in a citizen’s or foreign resident’s relatives—or the relatives of their spouse—under humanitarian cases, the decision authorizes the Director General of Identity and Foreigners Affairs at the Authority to grant exceptions in certain instances to the requirements of financial capability, degree of kinship, or both, while maintaining the same technical and financial conditions currently in effect.

Residence for a Foreign Widow or Divorcee

The humanitarian provisions in the new decision include updated conditions for the residency of a foreign widow or divorcee in the UAE without a sponsor. The decision permits granting residency to the wife in the event of death or divorce if the husband was a UAE citizen, issuing a residence permit to the foreign widow or divorcee without children within six months from the date of death or divorce. In the case of a foreign husband, the decision allows issuing residency to the foreign widow or divorcee who is the custodial parent and to her children within six months of the date of death or divorce, provided that the widow or divorcee is present in the UAE, that the sponsor was the husband at the time of death or divorce, and that the widow or divorcee retains custody if she wishes to sponsor her children. In the event of a custody dispute, the decision is made by the competent committee. In all cases, adequate financial capability and suitable housing must be ensured, and the residency may be extended for an equivalent period if there are valid reasons.

The decision specifies in Annex (A) the schedule of durations and extension authorities for entry visas and the authorized stay period upon issuance, covering six types of durations and extension options. This aims to govern procedures, strengthen institutional identity, promote transparency and integrity, and enable all categories of applicants to achieve the purposes for which they sought the visa, taking into account the type of visa and its significance to both the applicants and the state.